See here our setup with Manolis and Frank Hakopians in front of. Frank wrote recently an excellent review of Tune Audio Marvel horn loudspeakers in German magazine Fairaudio. 6moons shared the German review - so you can enjoy it in English too.
The only source 2018 was analogue again - the Dr. Feickert Analogue top model - the Firebird turntable. And we thank the German Luxman distributor IAD GmbH to provide the sweet Luxman tube phonostage and Class a integrated amplifier in Hamburg. Worked well together with Das Klang cables, IsoTek power conditioning and Symposium Acoustics rack and Rollerblocks. Class A amplification was a perfect match for Tune Audio Marvel hornspeakers.
And again live record washing at the show was done to provide best analogue sound as possible - with complete Chisto Easy Groove cleaning fluids assisted by a Nessie Vinylmaster record washing machine.
>>> Visit our complete photo story for more details of our showroom in Hamburg 2018!
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Tune Audio Prime horn loudspeaker - Blue Moon Award winners
Three Premieres:
Play partners:
GLANZ MH-124S - The tonearm statement from Japan!
The Japanese GLANZ MH-124S tonearm is incredibly accurate and precise, like a whip and at the same time musically, coherent and shows corpus, Gestalt in music playback. The great highlight and right base for best cartridges - already tried Lyra, SPUs - in Linz the Dynavector Te Kaitora Rua.
NEW: For more info about technical background and options of the great tonearms visit the new released GLANZ website in English language.
Yeah - Peter Sambs satisfied listening to his private records
Just look at the smile of my dealer - it tells you the story. My best setup there up today - everybody satisfied - a week later we repeat spontaneously a more intime meeting there. And the analogue setup including new EINSTEIN The Phonostage, everything placed at Symposium Acoustics remained for the following Kondo event too. - see my complete photo collection - last pics. As phono cable CHISTO Das Klang in its latest version Richter Limited Edition transmits the fragile signal to the phonostage.
EINSTEIN The Amp Ultimate - compact integrated amp at the limit!
Munich HIGH END 2017 is upcoming - I will be there complete 4 days.
My brands will exhibit there:
>>> Here the complete photo collection (also some pics of preparing next Kondo event there)
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Thomas Rabenseifner recently relocated with his company to a former interior design office in the center of Vienna. Thomas prepared a very sweet setup for the three AVID HIFI record players - DIVA II SP, SEQUEL SP and top model ACUTUS SP equipped with similar SME tonearms and Nagaoka MP-150 Moving Iron high output cartridge. Amplification was done by a Lyric PS-10 phonostage, Valvet L2 preamp and Icon Audio MB 845i tube mono amps. Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS3 MK2 hornspeakers fitted perfectly the new demo room of Thomas - remember 2016 at Vienna Vinyl & Music Fair 2016 we used Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS2 model with great success.
Conrad Mas (AVID HIFI) and Thomas Rabenseifner (simply-HIFI.com)
Conrad Mas as always the typical British gentleman demonstrated with patience and enthusiasm again and again the different AVID HIFI record players. The difference was clear and the expensive top model AVID HIFI ACUTUS SP made an extremely clear step upwards! Well done again - so my personal advice again - for analogue record players rules:
AVID HIFI DIVA II SP, SQUEL SP and ACUTUS SP record players
Second program point: Professional record cleaning demonstrated with Nessie Vinylmaster cleaning machine and CHISTO Easy Groove record cleaning fluids
Thomas Rabenseifner asked his guests to bring their own records - that worked wonderfully. For some heavily polluted records we use CHISTO Easy Groove Extreme pre-wash and for all CHISTO Easy Groove concentrate, which cleans very good, adds strong antistatic and also acts as the only fluid on the market antibacterial and fungicidal. Great success again - and it is not only about less noise and clicks (scratches can not be removed, clear) - the main benefit is much better sound - more corpus, power and dynamics, better timbre, pure emotion - after all dirt was removed from the grooves and the pickup could scan perfectly
Nessie Vinylcleaner record cleaning machine and CHISTO Easy Groove record cleaning fluids
As our professional record cleaning station was situated in the kitchen / bar in mid of the shop - you could listen to your own records before-after-cleaning in the main shop room. A smaller setup with a Thorens record player was prepared for that purpose.
We would like to thank the many interested visitors and Thomas Rabenseifner for the successful organization of the event. The new shop loacted in downtown is worth a visit for all hifi-lovers in and around Vienna!
Thorens in simply-HIFI.com front showroom
>>> Here the complete photo collection (more reports on other brands too)
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Best (not live) sound of Vinyl Festival - The setup
Fix is already that we 2018 will again be strongly present. That so many young visitors came and also listened extensively to our showroom music was certainly the most positive surprise! Walter Kircher HiFi was assisted at the festival by Uwe Draabe from Hamburg who manufacturers the Nessie vinyl cleaning machines and the simply-HIFI.com sales team Thomas Rabenseifner and Lukas Linek. Special Thanks to our sponsors AVID HiFi, Blumenhofer Acoustics, Chisto, Dr. Feickert Analogue, EINSTEIN, Nessie and simply-HIFI.com - which made our great appearance possible. Wow!
We played good music around the clock - everything from opera to rock concerts. In the centre: the AVID HIFI Acustus SP record player which is the top model of the British manufacturer - big sound thanks to the firstclass subchassis too as the floor was moving a bit. German EINSTEIN Audio The Amp Ultimate looked compact - anyway this superb integrated amplifier justified its price of 16500 Euro and supplied the Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS1 MK2 horn loudspeakers with seemingly unlimited power - 2 x 90 Watts at 8 Ohm and 96 dB sensitivity, high efficiency rules. Authority, maximum dynamics, magic timbre, sweet highs - everything was right and here - music ruled at the end.
Engineer Uwe Draabe from Hamburg and his Nessie Vinylmaster and Vinylcleaner machines
The official Festival program included several record cleaning workshops in our showroom - assisted by these two brands: Nessie record cleaning machines and the complete Chisto EASY GROOVE audio cosmetics for analogue records. Surrounded by some talk how to do it right and answering questions of the audience - we demonstrated that not less clicks and noise are the real benefit of professional cleaning done by a top washing machine using the best cleaning fluids. Better sound in the form of more dynamcis, more 3D corpus and convincing timbre - that is the real emotional benefit. And every 2nd hand record bought at such vinyl exchange needs intensive cleaning at the start - here CHISTO Easy Groove Extreme and Enzycaster pre-wash solutions worked magic for the audience. Anyway - take care and try it yourself - mint and new sealed records need cleaning too before first listening.
Lukas Linek and Thomas Rabenseifner - Simply Hifi Vienna
Lukas Linek and Thomas Rabenseifner did a wonderful job at our booth. Please note and safe following date: On April 7th, there will be a big analogue event in the simply-HIFI.com shop. Star guest is Conrad Mas from UK, the owner of AVID HIFI. He will do there his well-known good-better-best show - 3 AVID HIFI turntables equipped with same tonearm-cartridge combination - to demonstrate the importance of the analogue drive in your system - AVID HIFI Acutus as top model will be there too accompanied by Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin horn loudspeakers. At the same time, I will demonstrate the professional record cleaning with Nessie cleaning machines assisted by our great CHISTO Easy Groove record cleaning fluids - of course with before / after comparison.
And for all those who are on Friday the 24.03 or Saturday the 25.03 in Linz at Sambs HiFi ... there is again the great opportunity to listen flagship Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS1 MK2 horn loudspeakers in an excellent environment. In any case, you will always find all future dates on our event page.
Best (not live) sound of Vinyl Festival - The setup
>>> Here the complete photo collection (more reports on other brands too)
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Chisto - Glanz - Symposium Acoustics - Tune Audio
Manolis Proestakis came personally from Athen to present his Tune Audio hornspeakers. Propably you remember the big Tune Audio Anima horn loudspeakers (109dB sensitivity!) with gigantic Trafomatic Audio Elysium tube mono amplifiers in Munich 2016? One of the most reported and praised setups last year. For Hamburg we choose smaller Tune Audio Prime speakers: basshorn, modified Fostex driver, 93dB sensitivity, an easy load for every amp. These elegant speakers were already reviewed at 6moons.com and won the well-known Blue Moon Award.
Even in the small 15m2 hotelroom we head great sound with powerful, clean bass - thanks to horn principle which stimulates room resonances much less. Tune Audio modifies newest Fostex drivers in house and prefers 1st order crossovers, exhibiting zero phase shift. So tonality and timbre is very authentic and sweet, sound extreme coherent, timing perfect, spatiality outstanding, an orchestra or singer has corpus. For listeners who are deep in music.
Manolis Proestakis, Mastermind of Tune Audio speakers
Chisto boss Yuri Zamazeev arrived too in Hamburg and assisted us to demonstrate the complete Chisto Easy Groove audio cosmetics portfolio for record cleaning. Cleaning records of several visitors was a big success. Some looked really bad - so prewashing with Chisto Easy Groove Extreme astounted them.
Of course we used in audio setup the rare and limited Chisto Das Klang Richter signal and speaker cables. Especially I have to mention the new Chisto Das Klang Richter phonocable - a really rare, outstanding experience in analogue sound!
Armin Kern (my German sales agent for Chisto) and Yuri Zamazeev (Chisto)
Next premiere: From Japan came for analogue playback the ultimative Glanz MH-124SX 12 inch tonearm. Simple Japanese approach - to built the absolute best arm, oldschool heavy arm, massive and rigid with quick energy transfer. "The Glanz" Extra Heavy Weight tone arm is the final answer from Glanz (Founded in 1951), in terms of tone arm design and superb craftsmanship.
Mounted on a Dr. Feickert Analogue Firebird record player (the top model) the Glanz MH-124SX tonearm raised the Lyra Kleos MC pickup to unknown heights. As always our turntable used the Symposium Rollerblocks Serie 2+ with G2.5 superballs bearing devices based on an Ultra platform. Not to forget the state-of-the-art Symposium Acoustics I.S.I.S. rack system including additional Rollerblocks modules and isolation platforms as shelfs.
Analogue sound - as the only source!
Einstein Audio provided us its top level integrated amplifier The Amp Ultimate - a 16500 Euro compact dream machine. A preamp section with tubes is followed by a highly sophisticated outputstage using a so-called Circlotron-circuit similar to the OTL concept. Very puristic approach resulting in extreme fast sound with fragile resolution and outstanding natural timbre.
Einstein Audio's The Little Big Phono looks like 2 chocolates and is powered by the integr. amplifier. Sound was very permeable and lightning fast - no noise. As i know the Lyra well i have to confess i misse nothing - this little phono is magic.
I myself in a good mood in front of setup
>>> Here the complete photo collection (more reports on other brands too)
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Dr. Feickert Analogue turntables enjoy the highest reputation worldwide. The most important US magazine Stereophile and its famous reviewer Michael Fremer rated the top model Firebird in its highest class A, Absolute Sound was enthusiastic about the entry model Woodpecker.
Dr. Chris Feickert in front of new Sambs Hifi event location
Our setup for the Dr. Feickert Analogue challenge:
Peter Sambs in his new showroom
Because the weekend was very well attended, Peter Sambs was in a good mood. Analogue sound is back in full glory. The primary interest of all visitors was of course the comparison of the three turntables. Clear results, clear steps up in performance and always for a fair price. Chris attached the whole two days the same tonearm and cartridge to the record players - so an absolute direct comparison.
The first surprise was for all visitors the change to the heavier platter with brass inlays - great tuning for more power and authority. All agreed a Must for every model.
Then the even bigger surprise. We use the Dr. Feickert Analogue CLEAN battery power supply instead of the standard power supply. Now I know what is still missing! And that even though we always used the superior power conditioner from IsoTek - EVO3 Titan and EVO3 Sigma!
So my big tip: The brass inertia platter upgrade is a Must have - order it with your new Feickert turntable. CLEAN with its extreme impact you can order later too - anyway try it before you decide which turntable model.
Chris Feickert finetuning the analogue setup
Chris Feickert as great lector- his expertise and experience was welcomed by many visitors. There is no better chance to talk with the mastermind, very personally and with enough time. gain I say Thank you Chris for coming! And i learned i need an additional battery power supply. :) Big impact!
To proove our good mood - the group photo - great wine selection in Linz, powerful analogue sound, great visitors and big success. Wow, we have to do that again.
See you soon in Febraury - if you are near Hamburg, Germany - at the Norddeutsche Hifi-Tage 2017 in Hamburg - room 240 with my four brands:
Chris Feickert, Peter Sambs and Walter Kircher
>>> Here the complete photo collection
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And still about two hours on English highway to Huntingdon which is a market town in Cambridgeshire - known as the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell and our goal of the trip - AVID HIFI headquarters manufacturing well known analogue turntables since 1995 and today already started producing electronics and loudspeakers too - already on the successful way to the complete supplier.
Car ferry from Calais to Dover, UK
So what about the trip - yes of course there was a factory guide, we could enter everything, listen in the specific demo room the all AVID HIFI setup - very convincing, watch the various CAD machines in factory hall, learned that almost every part is manufactured in house. And founder and ceo Conrad Mas is a great networker - using many top contacts in Cambridge area, a big pool of hifi knowledge enriched with mainstream high-tech. Famous University of Cambridge is only half an hour away.
The most interesting part of the visit was also an exhausting part. Conrad Mas talked about a few hours about practically every part, every detail of an AVID HIFI record player. There is a technical reason for everything - benefits and disadvantages of different solutions. In short Conrad's statement: "You can ask me everything - I've tried everything". He takes care for every detail and always keeps an eye on the whole - the right balance.
A brief summary of the technical background can be found here on the AVID HIFI website.
Conrad Mas with experimental part - researching to avoid resonances in right way...
To complete the trip the obligatory group photo - seconds before our departure to catch the ferry to Europe again on time. We had luck - The wintry afternoon sun cast a warm light on the AVID HIFI factory.
Starting from left:
Theo Wubbolts, Quad-raad Netherlands
Martin Klaassen and Uwe Kuphal - IDC Klaassen Germany
Gary Cooper, Conrad Mas (CEO and founder), Stuart Stowe, Ian Godfrey, Simon Rae - all AVID HIFI team
Walter Kircher (myself)
Group photo in front of Avid Hifi factory
>>> Visit complete photo album of AVID Hifi trip here!
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Atrium A4.1, rooms E121+F110 - Conrad Mas personally present his new top record player AVID HIFI Acutes Reference Mono SP - the sheer power comes from a new, heavily overdressed power supply. And yes upgrades to consisting Acutus models will be available. Avid Hifi electronics and new speaker lineup will be on show too.
The masterpieces of Chris Feickert you find at booth F14 in hall 2. The best chance to meet Chris Feickert in real life - go there. As a highlight one Dr. Feickert Analogue Firebird turntable equipped with a Lyra Etna and new available Schroeder CB tonearm will power the demonstration of US Magico speakers.
Highly acclaimed Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS1 MK2 horn loudspeakers you find in Atrium 4.2, room F224 - of course bundled with Cammino cables and power conditioning. Partner for electronics 2016 is Air Tight from Japan and Pluto Audio for the turntable. Andrea Vitali will be available there for all questions regarding Blumenhofer Acoustics and Cammino.
Atrium 4.2, room E215: Trafomatic Audio's mastermind Sasa Kocic preparing with partners a very special room. A complete new top electronics line up will be sure an eye-catcher of the big show: Trafomatic Audio Noa KT150 based mono blocks, Luna phono stage and Lara preamp (both Lara and Luna come in two boxes design) - Partners in room are Tune Audio horn speakers, Saskia idler-drive turntable, Rockna dac and Hemingway cables
And sure some news are worth to visit of following rooms too:
IsoTek, Q Acoustics and QED in Atrium 4.1, rooms E121 + F110
Swiss Vovox cables in Atrium 4.1, room E107
Totem Acoustic speakers in Atrium 4.2, room F206
For inquiries for Chisto audio cosmetics or Symposium Acoustics products (I am responsible for Germany, Austria, Czech, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia - both brands) feel free to contact me live in Munich - will be available all 4 days!
See you there!
>>> Link to official fair website
>>> Visit our Facebook Fansite
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myself and Andrea Vitali (Blumenhofer Acoustics, Cammino global sales & marketing)
As there is no clear winner I start simply in chronological order with the first exhibition - the Norddeutsche HiFi-Tage in Hamburg (means North German hifi days), held in February. I took part there with Symposium Acoustics (racks, bases, bearing devices). I exhibited there together with the brands Blumenhofer Acoustics, Cammino, Einstein Audio and TechDas.
What is special about Hamburg? It is the best regional fair in Germany - more than 4000 visitors filling the Holiday Inn hotel. The atmosphere is very familiar, setups are not so high priced as Munich, friendly relaxed Germans mainly from Northern parts. One strong dealer (the hifi studio Bramfeld in Hamburg) made the exhibition within 10 years as the best in the whole of Germany. And complete German press and dealer competitors take part too - Congrats.
More Hamburg photos here
End of March 015 - first time in Prague at Czech Audio Video Show: Accustic Arts electronics, Blumenhofer Acoustics speakers, Chisto Das Klang cables, Feickert record player, Cammino power filter, and as always Symposium Acoustics rack, bases and bearing devices. To be at a fair in Prague is like holidays. Prague is like my Austrian Vienna a fantastic old city with deep cultural background. Czechs are very friendly - they greet entering our fair room and greet again leaving. Even my beloved opera records could play on audience request. We made a first good impression and want to come 2016 for continuity and still better contacts there again. Stay tuned.
All Czech photos here.
The Trafomatic Audio crew - left Sasa Kocic, right Milorad Despotic
May - the High End 2015 in Munich - biggest global high-end audio fair now. This year had not to assist in a exhibitor room and that was excellent. Munich is not so about great sound and i know many friends always complaining about bad sound in many rooms. Seldom i could listen there to good classical music. Nevertheless, there was to hear very great sound experience in a few rooms too! So what is special about Munich? Easy to describe. As biggest global fair now you can meet many manufacturers, developers, press from all over the world. Main part of visitors of the fair are also in high-end audio business. So i had 3 long days there talking with many, many interesting people from countless brands and met most of my local dealers there too. My resume of Munich: perfect for contacts, networking, meet important people in real life, to stay in touch. Because of high prices for Fair participants you will not meet small German, Austrian distributors exhibiting in Munich - for this purpose many regional shows exists.
Look for all my photo albums and watch the high-end audio guys i met in Munich.
Next weekend of May I took part at the famous Multipak show in Pakrac, Croatia. Pakrac is a very small city in south of Zagreb - some would say in nowhere area. :) You still recognize there damaged buildings from former civil war. Robertoshop alias Bozidar Savi is propably the most powerful dealer in whole ex Yugoslavia region and founded this special show. You came mostly from loud Croatian capital Zagreb by car, enter this small city and relax. No noise, no traffic, only one hotel with Austrian bank inside - very comfortable. 3 days whole city only for high-end audio - Robertoshop and many other dealers, distributors exhibit at different places in town. So you could take your friends, family with you... walk in city... visit coffee house.... live music at several places... go for lunch in a restaurant or pizzeria. Almost all well-known brands with high reputation shown there, a magic place for hifi! In comparison to Munich my sound experience with similar equipment in most show rooms was much, mach better in Croatia. Slavic people are deep in music. Bozo told me regardless of price there MUST be emotion in a playback system. Right guy, same blood type!
More Croatian photos here
After the best summer since many years audio season started again in late September - I participated at two Vienna Vinyl & Music Fairs - in Vienna and Graz. Brandnew fair concept in Austria - it is about combining live music, vinyl exchange and classic hifi. Of course analogue playback via outstanding Dr. Feickert Analogue record player and presentation of my Chisto cleaning fluids for analogue records were in focus. Nobody could overlook the classy Blumenhofer Acoustics loudspeakers. Accustic Arts and their sound engineer Milan Saje presented in Vienna their first analogue record - now available in stores. Great place for analogue addicts in Vienna! In Graz the fair was part of big public general fair - so thousands of visitors introduced to high-end audio in an easy way. During the fair in Graz we had the honor to listen to a live concert with Sir Oliver Mally. If you like Blues - you must buy his new record Shapeshifter!! A voice to cry for (take care of your girls), like a young, but fully alive Johnnie Cash - lively, powerful, varied songs. A big campaign to reach more normal people again - a good place where music lovers are looking for good records. We will take part 2016 again.
All photos including live concerts here
Next fair in October following was the HI-FI multimedia SHOW 2015 in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. Only two hours from my city in Austria i drove there to visit the fair for one day. Slovenia is a small country with a population of just 2 million - Already more than 20 years there a relatively large Hifi Fair takes place. Slavic people, deep in music and as ex Yugoslavia was not so closed as other countries of Eastern Europe Slovenians were in touch with hifi much longer - like Austrians probably. My brand Accustic Arts was shown, partnered with big Slovenian Gallus Audio speakers. Blumenhofer Acoustics Tempesta 17 speakers made big impression amplified by the sweet Trafomatic Audio Premise amp (2x4 EL84 tubes) - source an old, tuned direct drive Technics record player - all cables Cammino. Nice fair, near, worth a visit.
Slovenian pics here
After 2013 again Bratislava, capital of Slovakia - took part at the Audiovideokino 2015 show - with full Accustic Arts reference electronics setup, complete Chisto Das Klang cables, Symposium Acoustics rack, bases, bearing devices, as analogue source Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird, Swiss Piega C60.2 speakers. After warming up great sound. Bratislava is less than one hour in East of Vienna - big great show Slovakians established there. Some big, powerful distributors make this great fair possible - direct in the heart of downtown Bratislava. All rooms are carefully decorated there, noting every detail, many rooms got acoustical treatments. Friday is special vip evening with countless guests, buffet in all rooms, drinks, many girls too and all seem interested in hifi stuff. Not to be overlooked are the many pretty girls, visitors and show hostesses. Girls there are also interested in hifi - you can watch them taking photos of the setups! From Vienna fairs I know many visitors too and have to add that i detected almost no Austrians visiting that great fair so near from Vienna - on the other side the Vienna fair is always visited by many Slovaks. Good mood and great entertainment ruled here.
All Bratislava photos here
Vienna Klangbilder 2015 - last show this year in capital of my own country. So take care as i am biased... want always to show best sound here. :) Vienna is an international metropolis - so not comparable with all other places I visited 2015. Probably Vienna is the capital of music too - many say best opera house in the world - I agree. It is the fair there i can play more classical music and opera than at any other place - and visitors do not leave the room. Part of the fair are visits and life concerts of many famous classical musicians too - easy to find in Vienna - anyway also big names in Jazz and Blues music you will meet there. Finally i got there the new analogue record of Sir Oliver Mally "Shapeshifter" - big recommendation for all Blues fans reading my blog - a must have. Accustic Arts participated for the sixth time in Vienna - so now a high-end audio fixum in Austria, Blumenhofer Acoustics speakers had their premiere. Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird record player helped me to audition some new Decca classic records. And as always all gear were on Symposium Acoustics racks, bases and bearing devices to show their very best. Second premiere in Vienna - complete cables setup from Italy - from Cammino and of course the Camino Power Harmonizer again doing its sweet job. 2015 Vienna was very successful show - the big conference room near the lobby worked perfect. Lyra boss Stig Bjorge seemed to like my sound too - as i used a Lyra Kleos cartridge mounted on a Reed 3P 12" tonearm
German Fairaudio magazine reported very positive about my room - read here in German
Vienna photos here
So who is the winner, my favorite? Hamburg for German market. Prague as a beautiful place to visit absolutely. Munich for contacts, networking, meeting high-end audio people from anywhere in the world in real life. Pakrac as big audio, music party with very special flair - difficult to copy. Vienna Vinyl & Music Fair because of analogue records and live music. Vienna Klangbilder for high-end audio and classical music with Vienna charm.
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Yuri Zamazeev (Chisto) and Andrea Vitali (Blumenhofer Acoustics, Cammino)
The clou was to combine a big vinyl fair with live music performed by top Austrian musicians. And to add several hifi exhibitors - as vinyl collectors and fans must be interested in good electronics too. Walter Kircher HiFi exhibited with perfect support of my brands Accustic Arts, Blumenhofer Acoustics, Chisto, Dr. Feickert Analogue, Symposium Acoustics. We were also part of the Sempre Audio HÖRBAR, assisted by editor in chief Michael Holzinger from Austrian online magazine Sempre Audio.
We presented two setups with Accustic Arts electronics and Blumenhofer Acoustics speakers powered by Chisto cables, a Cammino power conditioner and she glorious Symposium Acoustics rack. The vinyl star was, no surprise the Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird record player. For more detail in the setups visit the two corresponding photo albums. The events are not about extreme high-end audio - the show is just about music... back to the roots.
Milan Saje (Accustic Arts sound engineering) and Yuri Zamazeev (Chisto audio cosmetics)
Our star at the Vienna booth was Milan Saje - the Accustic Arts sound engineer of famous Uncompressed World CD series. Soon the first analogue record will be released too. Milan started his career back in the 70s at famous Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg and has so great experience with analogue records too. Stay tuned.
Yuri Zamazeev, CEO of Chisto
Next attraction with premieres in Vienna: our professional Vinyl record washing station powered exclusively by Chisto
Chisto introduced in Vienna the new, now completed portfolio of Vinyl care. Dozens of dealers took our dealer baggages. The Chisto Easy Groove spray & wipe solution - for everyone without a washing machine. Not only it is cleaning very strong, has strong antistatic effect - it adds as first on market antibacterial and fungicidal cleaning action! Same goes for the Chisto Easy Groove concentrate which you mix in the ratio 1: 9 with distilled water for your record cleaning machine. Chisto Easy Groove Virgin concentrate is the special solution for brand-new and mint records - probably to safe the new record at your digital hard disc or open-reel tape.
For dirty records and perfectionists two pre-wash solutions were presented first time in Austria, Europe:
The effect was extreme - nomen est omen. Many record collectors were shocked by the results. Both are very strong and give different result - you must try both.
Sir Oliver Mally and Martin Moro
Live Music performed by international Blues stars like Sir Oliver Mally - here together with guitarist Martin Moro were the real stars at the fair. HiFi alone is nothing - it is all about real music, live music. Our hifi setup has the job to transport all the power and emotion of live music it to our homes. If done well - it is worth the effort and our investment. Oliver is a big vinyl fan too - his new record is also released as Vinyl record - and owns a fine stereo setup at his home too. I am proud that he personally took one Chisto Easy Groove record cleaner. Sure he will like the results.
>>> complete photo albums from Vienna and Graz
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For the complete description of the workshop - we compared turntables, many different pickups, tonearms, tonearmcables - please go to the photo album, which presents you all details like a photo story. I want to bore anyone and repeat all over again. Now I want to concentrate on the conclusions - including further thoughts and tips.
Clear for everyone is that the primary base of good sound is the turntable itself. Two of "my" Dr. Feickert Analogue record players proved that with ease in Linz. So first invest here - and still getting the full package in focus. Here the top model Dr. Feickert Analogue Firebird (3 motors!) equipped with two tonearms and two expensive pickups - Benz Micro LP S (EUR 3900,-) and DS-Audio DS-W1 (EUR 8800,- incl. own phonostage).
Next i go to the pickup. Cartridges are small and like small high-tech tweeters of big loudspeakers in focus of hifi fans. Crystal clear great sound improvements in pickups between 300 Euro and 4,000 Euro happened. Anyway for most listeners the changing overall character of different brands was most obvious. How timbres are - as the music flows. Some pickups had something like digital character I would venture to say me. A reminiscence of a cd-player in analogue playback? The resolution of modern systems was certainly never as high as up to date - it seems the desired analog sound while sometimes something to fall by the wayside. So take care, listen to a pickup at an experienced dealer's store. In Linz we compared pickups from Benz, Ortofon and DS Audio. And there are still more famous brands to make you addictive - just to name a few: Miyajima lab, London (former Decca), Ikeda, Jan Allaerts, Miyabi, Lyra...
Next i go to tonearmcables. The VPI turntable showed a clear and big bonus going from an upgrade tonearmcable for 150 euro to 700 Euro. If you have the bucks - a clear buy signal sure. It is surprising, however, that an only 300 Euro expensive pickup pointed this. So signals from the pickups are very low-powered and therefore very sensitive - so take care of right cables. For top systems I recommend always direct cabling - from pickup to phono-preamp - no additional plug-in connection between! As a positive example - the used Reed tonearm comes from the factory with complete cabling in one piece.
The tonearm: There are different principles available - one-point ala unipivot, more point, tangential ones. A good tonearm is a fine mechanical work of art and let you make all adjustments of different parameters with ease without affecting others. As the disk drive itself, it has to deal in a positive manner with resonances and problems that occur during movement. There is no 100% perfection - and so always is the highest goal to achieve beautiful musicality, natural timbre, sounds and resolution simultaneously with the right balance. Resolution is nothing if the rest lacks!!
The phonostage is the last transit station to do it right - take care that it is highly compatible with the pickup of your choice. In one of the next blog entries i will talk about an additional theme - different equalization curves for analogue records of different era or label (DECCA, DG, Living Stereos...) . Stay tuned.
To combine the right brands recognizing their character and to invest in the complete package gives synergy and will satisfy your target - much more fun and emotion listening to your analogue records.
PS: NEWS - I am very proud to represent in Austria now wellknown Trafomatic Audio tube electronics from Serbia! A real European product with heart and emotion.
>>> complete photo story of workshop
>>> Walter Kircher HiFi on Facebook
>>> Walter Kircher HiFi on Youtube
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My colleagues at the fair were Andrea Vitali, worldwide sales director of Blumenhofer Acoustics loudspeakers and Cammino, further Yuri Zamazeev - CEO of Chisto brand. The brands displayed in alphabetical order: Accustic Arts, Blumenhofer Acoustics, Cammino, Chisto, Dr. Feickert Analogue and Symposium Acoustics.
Sure you are interested in the complete setup - we had to take care of the smaller room this time:
My Italian friend Andrea Vitali guaranteed as always a great atmosphere - for the reader, it is maybe more interesting that he represents worldwide Blumenhofer Acoustics and Cammino. Andrea tried to demonstrate the natural power of Blumenhofer Acoustics loudspeakers. And he never forgets to mention the beneficial effect of the Cammino Power Harmonizer H3.1 line filter.
In Prague Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS2 speakers were the stars at the show. Read on 6moons.com the new review on their larger siblings Genuin FS1 MK2. I love their power and dynamics, excellent timing, natural timbre (Vintage character) and highest resolution even the most delicate details and nuances.
Chisto: My good fellow Yuri Zamazeev, owner of Chisto took part in Prague together with me at the fair again. On display were all his Chisto audio cosmetics: cleaning fluids for digital and analogue records - IMHO best on the market, latest technique inside.
And all the wiring was done with Chisto Das Klang Vintage-DNA cables. World premiere in Prague: Chisto Das Klang Richter limited special edition cables dedicated to genius Sviatoslav Richter - usb, coaxial digital and rca cables:
Stay tuned for more info here!
So is Prague worth a visit for HiFi? Yes Daniel Brezina, editor in chief of Czech Hi-Fi Voice online magazine made a super job organizing the Czech Audio Video Ahow Praha 2015 - I want to come again. And of course Prague is worth a visit 365 days a year!
>>> complete photo albums from Prague
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Group photo with fair organizers and my two co-exhibitors in room - from left:
Wolfgang Borchert (owner of Hifi Studio Bramfeld), Volker Bohlmeier (owner of Einstein Audio), Andrea Vitali (Blumenhofer Acoustics and Cammino) and Ivonne Borchert-Lima (Hifi Studio Bramfeld and personal organizer of the complete fair)
Something new - produced a short video clip about the structure of our setups. Walter Kircher HiFi Youtube account also created.
our setup:
Playback at the show was only analogue from TechDAS Air Force Two turntable. Perfectly positioned at the Symposium Acoustics rack and additional Ultra platforms - how shall I describe the sound? Wow, wow! Big Authority, human timbre, open, the right sense of timing - analogue sounds still rules. Many visitors were surprised by the mid-class Blumenhofer Acoustics Tempesta 20 speakers - 92.5dB sensitivity, a horn midrange-tweeter - old school sound perfected by modern means.
Volker Bohlmeier and Andrea Vitali were the right partners to get great sound live at a fair as a team. In reality they both know how to make a worldclass setup, engaging and highly musical - i just added the fantastic Symposium Acoustics rack and other tools of same brand - yes sound quality sure grows dramatically in the correct direction - and and the musicality stayed including increased power and body. Fantastic speakers, sure top amplifier, worldclass turntable - for many best setup in Hamburg.
Accustic Arts also took part in the fair - with German Audio Physic loudspeakers - a good combination i had two times in Vienna 4 or 5 years ago on show too. The new Accustic Arts PLAYER II reference cd-player, partnered with Accustic Arts Tube Preamp II MK2 and MONO II drove new Audio Physic Cardeas plus+ speakers with great result.
And I met again Matthias Boede from German STEREO magazine demonstrating in one of his well-known workshops the importance of additional footers and their benefit in resulting sound quality. As i represent since many years Symposium Acoustics i am very aware of that of course. Fighting microphonic and good coupling rules.
Attention: on April 18 Matthias Boede is special guest in Linz, Austria at Sambs Hifi shop.
Dr. Feickert Analogue Firebird - the biggest turntable in portfolio, able to handle two 12 inch tonearms - was shown in full setup including three Feickert world premieres:
The Clean battery power supply, the new upcoming Dr. Feickert Analogue WREN phonostage (will be available from the High-End in Munich ) and the new SILENT base.
Chris Feickert revealed exclusively in Hamburg for the first time his soon to be released phonostage (see marking as prototype on photo) - the specs so far:
Visit Walter Kircher HiFi at the next high-end show in Prague - 27 + 28 March!
>>> complete photo albums from Hamburg
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Accustic Arts PLAYER II, the new CD-player of their reference line and Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird analogue turntable played alternately great music - from Pink Floyd, classical music to Ludwig Hirsch, an Austrian songwriter. The Accustic Arts POWER I MK3 integrated amplifier (2x130W 8Ohm) drove with ease the brilliant Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS2 speakers (94dB/8Ohm).
The Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS2 loudspeakers inspired the visitors with their enormous vitality, human natural timbre, compact presentation, not even missing the most delicate details. And if we wanted we let it rock.
Big surprise for some were the delicate, brilliant Chisto Das Klang cables - with Vintage DNA inside, highest resolution, natural human timbre and highly limited edition. In comparison to a famous Japanes luxury brand Chisto cables showed their Über status.
The Accustic Arts PLAYER II grabbed all the visitors with its exciting way to play the music - in direct mode, upsampling off. Surely he belongs to some, a few CD players in the CD player Olympus. You get the player with many add-ons like dac section including top-class asynchronous usb input, tube-hybrid output, Philips drive inside and optional volume control.
Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable equipped with outstanding Reed 3P tonearm assisting a Lyra Kleos MC cartridge, partnered by a Pass XP-15 phonostage proved to us in Linz that analogue still rules. The musical experience with the Blackbird turntable standing at the brilliant Symposium Acoustics rack was like a great live concert. Great songwriters as Yves Montand or Austrian Ludwig Hirsch visited us.
A surprise guest honored us Michael Holzinger from Vienna, chief editor of Austrian based Sempre Audio web magazine. He was very happy to listen to Austrian songwriter Ludwig Hirsch from analogue record. As anecdote I can always tell that my dear mother with Ludwig Hirsch already played in the sandbox.
So Peter Sambs, CEO of the great hifi shop in Linz downtown was happy about the great response of the weekend. Worth the effort - will do it again.
>>> Here the link to the big photo album of the event
>>> new Youtube Channel
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Here I am standing in front of our big setup - complete Accustic Arts reference electronics, impressive SoulSonic Impulse SE dipole loudspeakers, Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird + Reed 3P + Lyra Kleos, Cammino Power Harmonizer, bases + racks + Rollerblocks from Symposium Acoustics, cables from Accustic Arts, Chisto and Vovox. All brands put together by myself but I have had great assistance by Miro Krajnc (mastermind of SoulSonic speakers) and Yuri Zamazeev (CEO of Chisto).
A big WOW for many were the SoulSonic Impulse SE flagship speakers, open-baffle dipole, two-way speakers with a tall ribbon and four 30cm bass drivers. After taking part at the CES in Las Vegas, Vienna was now the official European premiere for these extreme, highly musical speakers. Miro Krajnc tells me every time that no other amp controls his speakers with such unlimited authority and at the same time paired with warmth, body, transparency and smoothness - as good as the Accustic Arts Mono II amps. And I always reply: "Miro, do not forget the fabulous Accustic Arts Tube DAC II MK2, as the source always dominates the whole setup". Okay, in Vienna we had three excellent sources, the musical impact only depending on the software: USB-Audio via asynchronous USB input of the Tube DAC, CDs played with the Accustic Arts DRIVE II and analogue records.
From my personal experience I feel that the outstanding, perhaps even the absolutely best rack, Symposium Acoustics ISIS (Independent Shelf Isolation System), accompanied by the exclusive Rollerblocks Serie 2+ with G2.5 balls or the Symposium Acoustics Ultra platforms assisting the Accustic Arts MONO II, is responsible too, for the world-class sound, this year in Vienna.
Additionally, the Italian Cammino Power Harmonizers H3.1 did a fantastic job of cleaning the power of all gear, in a healthy, natural way. The Cammino is a passive device performing some real magic with the electricity and it is doing its job undetectable, without any ill side effects.
So dear visitors of our room, please notice: it was not solely the world-class SoulSonic speakers, nor the analogue power of Dr. Feickert Analogue assisted by Reed and Lyra, nor the authoritative Accustic Arts MONO II amps, or the Chisto Vintage DNA cables, Vovox Textura or Accustic Arts power cords respectively – but all of them working together, cleverly set-up by people with deep understanding of music – all that was responsible for the big sound at the fair. It all depends on the sum of all components!
Thanks to Michael Holzinger, editor in chief of Sempre Audio as well as Hans Theessink who personally presented his new audiophile remastered vinyl record of the legendary album "Baby wants to Boogie" in our suite – a big honor for us! Hans is living in Vienna and shares the same passion for high-end audio as well. Our setup showed up with ease that the new version betters the original one - not always the case in the presence of many new releases. I got my sample of the new album personally signed by Hans Theessink as did many other visitors.
As a second special guest we have had the privilege to host the classical Pianist Ulrike Fendel presenting her CD "Piano Preludes of 20th and 21th century". An interesting discussion about the future of marketing and sales of the classical music in modern times also took part in our room with Richard Winter (CEO of Gramola record label) and Viennese composer Meinhard Ruedenauer. Please take a look at the VIP Event photo album for the complete photo album.
Not surprisingly, the new star of the setup was the Dr. Feickert Analogue Blackbird turntable and I am personally very happy to assist the famous German brand regarding the sales in Austria. The fabulous, elegant Reed 3P tonearm with a very sweet Lyra Kleos MC cartridge completed the analogue setup in Vienna. The specific Double-Isolated XT Top of the outstanding Symposium Acoustics ISIS rack (Independent Shelf Isolation System) worked as the optimal base for analogue playback. That's the sound of my childhood. I grew up with great analogue sound which eventually led me to hifi.
It was very fitting that Yuri Zamazeev (CEO of Chisto) personally presented his various cleaning fluids intended for analog records. Chisto means clean in English. As a premiere we showed the Chisto Easy Groove Virgin Concentrate which is specifically recommended for the use with brand new records. It completes the cleaning fluid offerings for different purposes like the Chisto Easy Groove for standard use and Enzycaster for very dirty records.
>>> Please take a look at each specific photo album here - 101 photos of Vienna Klangbilder 2014
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Piran is a lovely old town located directly at the Adriatic sea, with long history and with many buildings in the Venetian style. It is the birthplace of Baroque composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini who played an important role in shaping its cultural heritage. So first photo here is an impression of the sweet city to show its atmosphere of this beautiful town.
impressions in Piran before sunset
Following the invitation of the proud owner of another pair of the SoulSonic Impulse SE speakers, I went to visit him, in the evening. He is a lucky guy as he has a very spacious living room where his complete setup is integrated. I stayed the whole evening for a fantastic listening session - first started with some compact discs I brought - the Reimyo CDP-777 CD-player made a good job - I was already impressed.
So far the most credible, lifelike soundstage let me listen every song with ease. Bass response was so complete, straight, like a thunderstorm - lifelike. Sure a cooperation of extraordinary room accoustics, the full active setup with two big Accustic Arts AMP II power amplifiers supervised by an exclusive PASS XVR-1 electronic crossover and an owner with deep understanding of music and experienced in audio setups.
my main target - the private SoulSonic Impulse SE setup in Piran region
Anyway that was only warming up so far... My friendly host put the first analogue record on his special turntable / tonearm built by Bruno Puhar. It happened like a click in the head and then we listened to the music, music ... record after record... no hifi anymore... like different life concerts in some specific concert halls of different sizes - yes concert hall, no puppet theater or living room, no hifi!
We listened with a very special cartridge - an old Panasonic EPC-450C-II Strain Gauge system. Read here at Soundsmith website more about Strain Gauge cartridges - why they are different from MM, MC or Moving Iron. The required phono preamp was an ESELab Nibiru SG, ESELab is a local Slovenian brand. Next I have to mention the main analogue preamp from the same brand - the ESELab ANU NG. Boris Privsek supplied the cables - a Slovenian brand again. Aha ... and I forgot to add the Cyclone subwoofer added on left side of SoulSonic Impulse SE speaker, responsible for the lowest infrasonic frequencies.
So, I shall mention no further superlatives here because I have something better for you - real life experience:
Just visit us in November at the Austrian high-end show KLANGBILER 2014 in Vienna! We will show the complete setup of SoulSonic Impulse SE speakers driven by the ACCUSTIC ARTS reference electronics. As an analogue source the Dr. Feickert Analogue turntable will be on display too.
>>> Please visit the complete photo album here with further comments of my trip to Piran!
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In the production hall Andrea introduced me to the founder and mastermind Thomas Blumenhofer working with his new 3D CAD controlled milling machine, which speeds up now the production process of the different speaker enclosures. Very impressive!
Besides big Clara Luna speaker all Blumenhofer Acoustics models are optimized 2-way speakers. The preference of 2-way speakers resulted from the over 30 years of experience in loudspeaker design by Tom Blumenhofer.
First listened to Tempesta 17 and Fun 17 speakers - both floorstanding speakers with 17cm bass driver. Tempesta 17 uses a down-fire vented bass reflex tunnel combined with a 1" horn-loaded compression driver transmitting the higher frequencies. Vice versa Fun 17 uses a classical 19mm silk dome tweeter combined with a horn-loaded 17cm driver. Two good choices for different preferences.
Blumenhofer Acoustics showroom: setup view - Fun 17 and smaller Tempesta 17 speakers
Followed by bigger Blumenhofer Acoustics Genuin FS 2 model with authoritative 30cm old school driver assisted by 1,4" horn-loaded compression driver. If you had already life experience with big and high-sensitivity drivers you know that specific "be here" feeling regarding music reproduction. Only large speakers provide this realism - physics rules. 94dB sensitivity make the speakers an easy load for Blumenhofers custom-made 2A3 mono amplifiers. Anyway most speakers offer an impedance linearization too.
As smaller Fun and Tempestas models too the Genuin FS 2 reproduces music retaining perfect timing again - enabling them to show the impact and tension of my favourite opera music. Their natural timbre and tonality, speed and power made Leonard Cohen's Live in London album a fantastic dejavu of a real life concert.
Blumenhofer Acoustics showroom: Wiki - 2-way flagship horn loudspeaker with 103dB sensitivity
As highlight of my first visit we listened to Wiki - statement model of Goia flagship speaker series. If you have the place to stand them you get an ultimate 2-way horn speaker. The Bass is front- and back-loaded and enables fantastic 103 dB sensitvity. Wiki is delivered and installed worldwide by Blumenhofer - providing perfect customer service to ensure drivers are 100% aligned to your personal listening distance. After warming up you recognize immediately the extraordinary status of Wiki.
Sure you guessed it - i decided to assist sales of Blumenhofer Acoustics speaker in Austria. Stay tuned for upcoming dealers.
>>> Please visit the complete photo album here with further comments under the photos!
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Mark Levinson is probably the most famous personality in high-end audio. Or better said he invented high-end hifi 1972 in the US with his first famous preamp Mark Levinson LNP-2. In 1984 Marks next famous big brand Cello was formed - sure many remember the Cello Audio Palette, a state of the art preamp including a clever working Equalizer. Mark Levinson Audio Systems is still alive, now owned by Harman International. Even in Lexus automobiles now you can find Mark Levinson audio electronics.
In my opinion only a person should develop audio electronics, speakers who is deeply in music and is aware of how music enchants us with excitement and emotion. Mark Levinson gives us here the best example: As a jazz musician, he played with many top stars such as Sonny Rollins, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea or Stan Getz and as a sound engineer he made many jazz and classic recordings with the highest standard.
And now to the present: 2007 Daniel Hert SA founded as exclusive brand in Switzerland - Marks last brand in order to achieve the limits of the possible. His M1 flagship loudspeakers tells us that the old virtues high sensitivity and full-range frequency response still rules. Listening to the complete top Daniel Hertz system tells an impressive story what matters in music: power, dynamics, original timbre, the tension of the music, no limits by compression.
Mark did an impressive demonstration of his Master Class audio player software . Anyway its main purpose is to correct tonal deficits of recordings. We high end audio folks are afraid of Equalizing because of possible sound leakages. That is not the case with Master Class - no losses and it is very easy to use like Marks EQ in Cellos Audio Palette preamp. Mark choosed especially for me some opera songs and Maria Callas sounded as if she had risen again. Her unique timbre did not change by the correction. As surprise Mark told me to try to do the correction myself. I did and achieved a similar result - so realy easy to use. The second feature of Master Class is the so-called A+ mode - it recreates a more analogue sound of your pcm files. You can create a new file including A+ and possible EQ and play it wherever you want. Please read Matej Isak's in-depth review.
Group photo in Venice Italy - from left to right: Yuri Zamazeev (Chisto) with his wife Anna, Mark Levinson (Daniel Hertz SA), my wife Dzhamilya with our little Alexander, Bjoern Gabriel and myself.
Mark it was a great pleasure and honor to meet you!
And here the complete photo album.
]]>The HIGH END 2014 in Munich is soon opened and all exhibitors have to hurry up. So I catch some seconds and will tell you where you can find myself and what is shown, is on display.
>>> the location: MOC, Atrium 4, 2nd floor, room F206
As I had the pleasure to show the two brands already together at some regional fairs and events I am proud to present the cooperation of German electronics manufacturer ACCUSTIC ARTS and Swiss High High-End Company AG, distributor of Canadian Totem Acoustic speakers at the international fair.
Experience the following new ACCUSTIC ARTS products:
PLAYER II - new integrated compact disc player of the Reference Series incl. DAC and preamp function
PLAYER ES MK2 - optimized PLAYER ES incl. USB async. technology
AMP BASES - new bases for MONO II and AMP II/III
TOTEM CEO Vince Bruzzese from Canada personally demonstrate first time in Europe his new TOTEM KIN MINI Subwoofer system
The big setup of the show will connect the complete ACCUSTIC ARTS reference electronics including MONO II and the best TOTEM Acoustic speakers - Element Metal floorstanders and Element Fire monitors.
As a highlight Matthias Böde from German STEREO Magazin will make an exclusive workshop in our room - Saturday 17.05 at 11.00am! He will demonstrate different digital cables using our big reference setup.
Stay tuned for more news from Munich and it will be a pleasure to meet some of my readers there.
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The prominent part of the luxury living room provides the necessary space for one of the best setups I ever had the chance to listen.
SoulSonic Impulse SE flagship speakers were powered by Accustic Arts reference electronics including the new MONO II amps. As this is multi purpose setup, the television is integrated and its owner use it as an audio control screen for the JRiver Mediacenter streaming player. A dedicated audio computer is hidden in the cellar below, and does not interfere regarding the noise domain. Swiss Vovox Textura Fortis cables were used as both speaker and audio interconnects.
During a listening session an acoustic curtain was used to damp the first reflexions behind the SoulSonic Impulse SE speakers; as you can see on the last photo of the additional album. The dipole speakers with line source arrangement are easy arranged to the right places.
New add-on: Blog entry now published on the MONO & STEREO magazine too!
And here the link to the complete photo album of the sweet setup.
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Perfect conditions accompanied my trip: sunny blue sky, warm temperatures and the Mediterranean flair!
In my luggage I carried the Totem Element Metal speakers, Vovox Textura Fortis cables and my favourite tools of Symposium Acoustics (Ultra platforms and Rollerblocks Serie 2+ with G3 superballs in double-stack). As the complete Accustic arts reference electronics is on display there and was tuned already - we had perfect conditions to demonstrate and listen to the Canadian Totem Element Metal speakers.
The listening session started in the evening - before that we went sightseeing in the old city, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere outside. Please look here for additional photos of Komarno downtown. And I start simultaneously with the statement that the Canadian speaker gave an excellent impression.
A wide panorama of music was played - rock, jazz and classics. As a highlight we enjoyed some direct masters of regioanl Jazz concerts - the direct way of Totem and Accustic Arts let you immerse deep in the music with high impact, power and tension. The natural and bright timbre let you forget about the hardware playing. Tonal balance remains on the right emotional side.
And lastly I took some interesting photo which made my day there! AMP II - MK 2: 55 solid kg German craftmanship made by Accustic Arts placed with Symposium Rollerblocks Serie 2+ at Ultra platform!
Look here for the complete photo album of the visit!
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During the event two fantastic news were officially announced:
SoulSonic speakers already took part at the CES 2011 / THE S.H.O.W. in Las Vegas and were considered one of the best sounds at the show. Now we will start from the ground here in Europe to establish a good dealer network to show you the musical and emotional qualities of SoulSonic speakers.
Technically, these speakers are using the dipole principle (open-baffle) combined with the line-source ribbon arrangement. This approach gives a more directional sound in the forward plane, minimzing the side wall, floor and ceiling reflections which helps to make the room boundaries disappearing in different acoustical environments. These 2-way speakers combine Ribbons for the high frequencies (500 Hz and above) and fast 30cm cone drivers for the bass to give sweet sound and precise fundament for the maximum sonic realism of your music collection.
The soundstage, the timbre, the power is so lifelike - i do not want to describe it here further. Not possible. If you never heard similar speakers you must try personally - If you love music you will be shocked! The experience is so natural, authentic, untechnically - it's hard to overhear it. Please excuse me if I sound mysterious :). This is not HiFi, these speakers seemingly have no dynamic limit. Lovers of Classical music will get goose bumps because of the perfectly reproduced arc of tension.
For VIP guests from overseas we can provide special appointments.
The current SoulSonic range starts with the Impact SE model (retail from EUR 26990,-), continues with the Immediacy SE speakers (retail from EUR 39990,-) and the flagship Impulse SE speakers (retail from EUR 74990,-). The smaller upcoming Beat SE model will be announced soon (price less than EUR 20000,-).
The highlight of the event for all guests was naturally the SoulSonic Impulse SE speakers, combined with the Accustic Arts state-of-the-art reference electronics including new MONO II power amplifiers. Swiss Vovox cables were responsible for the excellent connection of all components. Symposium Acoustics Ultra platforms with Rollerblocks Serie 2+ including G3 Superballs (in "double-stack" configuration) ensured the best possible conditions for the preamp and DAC.
Here you find the complete photo album of the event!
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The two points in discussion: First how expensive, second how big regarding physical size somebody realy needs in his living room. To get a broader view outside of the high-end perspective Jürgen Weber-Rom and Michael Holzinger led a conversation on the subject.
Big surprise for all visitors: The very small Totem Arro floorstander speakers filled the room with the necessary power and fundament. The mid-size YBA Design electronics had enough power and musical qualities to expressed the listeners.
Of course the second setup - small Totem Model-1 Signature bookshelf speakers - convinced all to make a step up in each sound parameter. The bigger YBA Heritage electronics assisted the small speakers and filled the whole big seminar room of the location. Yes bigger better here...
Our big setup with newer Totem Forst Signature speakers and complete YBA Passion electronics showed what you can achieve if invested "big money" (over 20k Euro). If you are used to it - no way to go back to an entry-level setup.
Nevertheless the small Totem Arro did not dissapoint any visitor if switching back - all of the main musical qualities stayed. Going up in the Totem speaker range you get more and more, of course - but still in the entry range you get the whole musical experience.
During the breaks the second surprise guest for many visitors - the Swiss JMC Soundboard - took the part of music reproduction. Many had to look that the Soundboard was playing - and not one pair of the fabulous Totem speakers. The design, the aesthetics, its luxury Swiss origin are perfect to get much attention. And Hearing is believing that you get great sound, high-end sound, musical emotion too.
Here is the link to the complete photo album!
Please take also a look at the last Sempre Audio event in Klagenfurt, assisted by Accustic Arts and KEF:
Link to my photo album
Link to the Sempre Audio report in German
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Here you find Matej's report with my photos on his MONOSTEREO website!
His website already shared my blog entries of the High-End Slovakia 2013 and the Klangbilder 2013 high-end show in Vienna.
3 brands I represent in several countries were used to built my personal setup for the event:
Totem Acoustic provided the Element Metal floorstander speaker, Accustic Arts the electronics with reference DRIVE II and TUBE DAC II MK2 including asynchronous USB fed by JRiver Mediacenter from my laptop. For amplification the POWER I MK3 was allowed to show what an integrated amplifier is capable.
Symposium Acoustics (2 Ultra platforms, 1 Svelte Plus shelf, top Rollerblocks Serie 2+ with G3 Superballs and Point Pods under speaker feet) helped to fight against resonances and maximized timing, tension and the corpus of good music. Of course simultaneously system resolution is increasing too to highest extend - but the first points are most important for music reproduction. The famous Rollerblocks of course worked directly between the platforms and bottom of the Accustic Arts electronics.
Take a look at my latest photos in my private listening room using Symposium Acoustics too.
from left to right: Matej Isak (chief editor of MONOSTEREO), Igor Kante (Ubiq-Vklop shop owner) and myself
Please look here for my complete photo album!
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Braking news: Matej Isak from Mono & Stereo High-End Audio Magazine shares now my blog entries!
There is no single highlight in our first room - it was a coherency teamwork of French YBA Passion electronics (the mid-range) alternately playing with the new Totem Forest Signature speakers or the luxury Swiss made JMC Soundboard (see my older blog entry). Many visitors did only recognize the Soundboard as the source of music when Norbert Luethi, Jasmin Weilenmann or Peter Sambs changed to the extraordinary Totem Forest Signature speakers. Of course the sound was not the same, but the musical quality is similar. And Totem speakers are well-known for their high musicality and deep impact.
Comparing both speakers is not easy, maybe even not possible - Totem may be more the high-end speaker for classic stereo setup, the JMC Soundboard the high-end solution for your living room. With small kids (my personal situation) a Soundboard on the wall is the safer way of listening to music.
I would want both - a custom designed JMC Soundboard for the living room and the classic high-end stereo ... And Yes you can personalize your Soundboard!
Now we take a look at the 2nd room, our big setup - Accustic Arts reference electronics and Totem Element Metal speakers same as in 2012 - to lift the excellent sound to a higher level still was my personal approach. Both brands, Totem and Accustic Arts, are my personal favorites to reach my sound goals - as these have strong musical impact, presenting all the tension of real music, showing real corpus and power like live music, straight sound to show you the natural timbre of human voice.
So I added complete room acoustic treatment done by Slovakian Acoustic Professional Zalan Schuster. He is a worldwide expert and uses primary GIK Acoustics elements - the most neutral on the market. He is able to analyze a specific room and plan a special design that suits a special customers room and taste. His main advantage is very much experience to set the right elements on the best place in a room. In Austria you can contact me for his service.
As a second add-on I used the famous Symposium Isis Rack (Absolute Sound editor's choice 2010) which combines two innovative technologies pioneered by Symposium: the Svelte Shelf and the fabulous Rollerblock isolation system. It works like a catapult for every good component. All 3 Accustic Arts components standing in the rack were simultaneous coupled and decoupled with the famous Symposium Rollerblocks Serie 2+ bearing devices with the top-notch G3 balls. My two Accustic Arts MONO II amplifiers were "only" coupled with Symposium Precision Couplers - making good contact to two Ultra platforms. That was a safe setup for the fair - at home I would use here the Rollerblocks instead of course.
The result was so far the best sound achieved by me on a fair and it was 100% my personal setup, fulfilling my idea of sound. In Comparison to 2012 we got more stable sound, better bass response (because of room acoustic treatment and Symposium use). The new excellent asynchronous USB input of the Accustic Arts TUBE DAC II MK2 made the setup easier. A PS Audio P10 power plant helped regarding bad power conditions in the big hotel.
But please be careful - the result is the sum of every detail: excellent electronics, wonderful speakers, good cables, power conditioner, the state-of-the-art rack, Rollerblocks and the perfect room acoustic treatment. It is the synergy of all that works. A good dealer looks for that too and assists you if searching for only one new component.
Last but not at least I want to introduce you 3 people which made the demo in the first room - from left to right:
Jasmin Weilenmann (CEO of Swiss High-End Company AG), Peter Sambs (Sambs Hifi in Linz, Austria), Norbert Luethi (CEO of Euronics Switzerland, mother company of the High-End Company AG) and myself (sales agent for Accustic Arts and all HEC products)
That was the last national high-end show in 2013 - 2014 I will welcome you in Munich at the German High End fair.
Please take also a look at the complete photo album here!
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And the big setup:
Totem Elements Metal reference floorstander speakers playing with the complete Accustic Arts reference series. The brandnew Accustic Arts MONO II power amplifiers played first time in an Austrian shop. Its world premiere was one week before in Bratislava. I love these speakers, the electronics - truly high emotional engaging sound. Like live with all the tension and power of good music. You forget the setup - you experience real musicians playing in concert.
This coming weekend, Friday through Sunday, I invite you to the Klangbilder High-End show 2013 in Vienna! We try to reach the next level in sound - visit us in our two rooms 909 + 910 in the Hilton Vienna Plaza - Accustic Arts and High-End Company AG:
Link to complete photo album!
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Accustic Arts along with the new Slovakian dealer Hanzel Audio and Zalan Schuster Acoustics (responsible for acoustic treatment in the room) participated in the High End Slovakia 2013 show in Bratislava - 19. + 20.10.2013.
The great High End Slovakia fair held in Bratislava (only 40 minutes east of Vienna) took place in 2 luxury hotels in down-town. Fantastic weather outside was to blame for the failure to get the perfect sound in the big and empty hotel salon so the room was optimized by Zalan Schuster, a well-known expert in Slovakia and Czech Republic. He managed to get the best of the sound by placing different acoustic elements from GIK Acoustics (absorbers, diffusors, bass traps) on the walls. As a result the sound was outstanding on most of the spots, not only on the typical sweet one! Once the audio setup was completed the attached room acoustic elements followed - the positive effect was a 100% after. ;)
The big Elipson 4260 floor stand speakers (15" woofers!!) driven by the brand new Accustic Arts MONO II reference power amplifiers delivered outstanding power and very dynamic sound! Additionally the typical power in the midrange of Accustic Arts electronics helped jazz, rock and classical singers to create a lifelike presence in the room.
The sound stage was enormous which made the room boundaries seem to disappear! This is of course thanks to the clever room acoustic tuning by Zalan...
So here is my big tip: You need Accustic Arts reference electronics (including the outstanding TUBE DAC II MK2, my personal reference da-converter, suitable Accustic Arts cables, good speakers, an acoustically comfortable room and the world class sound's guaranteed! ;)
As premiere in Bratislava we used the new asynchronous USB input for the Accustic Arts TUBE DAC II MK2 supplemented by a custom programmed Accustic Arts USB driver. I would suggest the upgrade to all owners of the TUBE DAC II MK2 if playing high-res files from computer! This ensures superior sound, and if you choose different inputs on the DAC you will recognise that your computer will stay attached as a sound card – great stuff!
At the show I as usual had my small Sony Vaio Z laptop with a 256GB SSD inside and an additionally installed 1TB hard disc instead of its blue-ray drive. ;) Unfortunately nowadays laptops do not have an option to change a drive with a second big hard disc to have more music on the road...
At the end of the High End Slovakia 2013 fair the new Accustic Arts dealer Milan Hanzel (right) proudly presents the show award for excellent sound!
Take a look here at the complete photo album of the fantastic weekend in Bratislava! See you all again 2014...
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Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, only 79km east of Vienna. The acoustically perfect treated room by Zalan Schuster Acoustics served as perfect location. Two excellent dealers from Bratislava organized this event:
Milan Hanzel (CEO of Hanzel Audio) and Zalan Schuster (Zalan Schuster Acoustics)!
From left to right: Milan Hanzel, Zalan Schuster and myself presenting the Accustic Arts MONO II amplifiers!
Special guest: Andrej Turok, independent high-end audio editor (former chief editor of Slovak High End magazine) will soon write a report of the event in the Slovak HiFi magazine HIGH & Style. As a musician he plays smooth jazz - see here some compact discs of Andrei Turok!
An almost certainly acoustically perfect room will not let me forget so quickly that evening. As a lover of classical music, I was there so close to the live experience like never before! An incredible stability in the sound, a rock-solid bass without resonances reproduced the music in all its power and tension like in the real concert hall...
Here the link to the complete photo album of this fantastic evening!
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My first impressions were the information I got from JMC website and the retail prices provided by the High-End Company AG which i represent in Austria.
I learned that the mastermind Jeanmichel Capt of JMC has built folk guitars for decades and the beautiful Soundboard inherited similar technique - tuned to transport the full frequency spectrum with suitable neutrality as a loudspeaker. As I played the classical guitar for more than 10 years I was curious to audition this elegant "loudspeaker" in reality. I tried to be as open as possible to get a serious, complete impression.
Valle de Joux - the Risoud Forest there is the perfect source for tonewood of well-known quality. 350 years are needed for the "perfect resonance spruce" to grow - the chance is about 10000:1 that one tree is the right one to build musical instruments or lutherie. Since generations many Lutherie companies know the forest because of the high-quality tonewood there. At an altitude of 1200m you find them protected in small valleys of the wood. The tree must be grown straight, must not rotate, only branches near the top.
At the 8th of August I arrived in Le Brassus in the Vallee de Joux - thirty minutes north of Lake Geneva. Many famous Swiss luxury watch companies are situated directly in the village or in the region - like Audemars Piguet or Blancpain. JMC manufactures special resonance boards and other products built for these watch brands - to amplify the sound of these famous watches. Hublot already bought a custom designed JMC Soundboard for all Hublot boutiques around the world!
Morning in the showroom: Céline Renaud, Director & Founder explains the JMC Soundboard - extraordinary design!! Several versions hanging on all walls.
And then she pressed the play button - wow, I hear a Cello with power and strong impact - I am surprised! It is a very compact sound, has impact, beautiful timbre and faster, deeper bass I ever awaited... I stood up - the Soundboard was attached assymetrical on one wall. You can walk through the whole big room - the quality stays - same sound everywhere, no bass problems caused by resonances.
Higher volumes are possible - your amplifier should have stable 80 - 100 Watts at 8 Ohm. For very large audiences use more pieces.
So what is the JMC Soundboard now? A loudspeaker, a sound furniture, an instrument, luxury Swiss design, Stealth High-End HiFi?
You must have a personal rendezvous with the JMC Soundboard to discover what it means to you! It seems to be the perfect solution for every living room - great sound - you recognize only luxury design on the wall. On the other hand it can make phantastic sound in shops, luxury hotels and other places. Custom built version are available. Everything built in Switzerland, all parts from there.
The Austrian retail prices start at Euro 9000,- incl. VAT.
Dimensions: 89x89x21cm, Weight 12kg
Link to my complete photo album!
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Since June I visited a lot of good dealers in Austria - the YBA Heritage electronics showed excellent sound on various speakers and made compared to many competitors in its price-class a perfect performance. To describe the sound I want to use the words powerful, dynamically, precise - paired with very sweet and natural timbre. These properties allow for a combination with many different speakers.
The YBA CD100 cd-player sounded best for me with upsampling/SRC off - more musical and natural. An USB input and a coaxial digital input (24/192) allows for connection to external digital sources. Please note the newest model has a drawer for the compact disc again, it is more practical in daily use.
The YBA MP100 media streamer is brandnew - with the same streaming motherboard from Vienna based company Stream Unlimited inside as my favourite streamer Accustic Arts Streamer ES. Sound is similar to the phantastic CD100 compact disc player. All high resolution music in WAV, FLAC or AIFF (Apple Lossless) up to 24/192 is supported. Additional you can connect an USB device, your iPod/Pad, your computer via USB and there is a coaxial digital input too.
The powerful YBA A100 integrated amplifier (2x150W/8Ohm) let you connect 5 devices via RCA and 1 device with XLR - the media streamer and the cd player have both oprions, RCS and XLR outputs. The video RCA input has a bypass feature for volume control if you want to connect a surround processor.
All 3 YBA Heritage units have the same solid black aluminium made remote control - if you own a combo you have one in reserve... :)
retail prices in Austria:
Have a look at the complete photo album here!
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As an analogue fan Georg Ruppert has been looking for his perfect turntable drive for a long time. Excellent resolution is the strong point of the belt drive - but Georg feels that the large scale dynamics are a bit limited compared to digitally stored music. So he discovered the idler turntables as basis for a new turntable drive (that is similar to direct drive without necessary speed regulation). The big model PureGroove Ultimate sports a big 12kg platter - the new PureGroove has a similar platter with half height. See here for more info!
I only say: it's a very strong sound with perfect impact and rhythm paired with excellent resolution and analogue flair. I like the design, especially the smaller new PureGroove - it is no classic design and it polarizes. The rasperry color is very cool - my family visited a strawberry field at the same time. ;)
The 2 masterminds behind the cool Pure Dynamcis PureGroove turntables: Peter Url and DI Georg Ruppert from Pure Dynamics!
The Pure Dynamics shop presents its own brand Pure Dynamics tube electronics, loudspeakers and turntables - and additionally top products of Accustic Arts and Bel Canto. The phono stage of the Accustic Arts Power ES amplifier did an phantastic job assisting the new red PureGroove turntable - much power and tension, music!
Please find here the complete photo album - photos of the big PureGroove Ultimate turntable too!
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Accustic Arts is proud and happy to show his new babies to the German Press! ;)
And now I can tell you more defintive specs about the new upcoming Accustic Arts MONO II:
Take a look at the complete Accustic Arts photo album from the HIGH END 2013 in Munich!
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Also take care of my first Accustic Arts photo album including the Bi-Amping workshop with Matthias Boede from German STEREO magazine!
Until Sunday late morning the show was run by Vince Bruzzese himself, owner of Canadian Totem Acoustic loudspeaker company. He did a perfect job to show the magic and philosophy of Totem speakers.
Technic to serve the music - to get a highly musical experience! Fantastic! Power, tension, color, almost everything...
The famous VTL tube amplifiers, assisted by French YBA CD Players assisted to get the whole story! It was hard to get photos in an empty room - had to come very early in the morning before the show in Munich was opened for the public. ;)
In Munich we celebrated the European premiere of the new Totem Forest Signature loudspeakers - the evolution model of the well-known Forest speakers.
As source the YBA CD100 played the music, amplified by the VTL IT 85 integrated tube amp.
And now a view at the big setup for the big boys! ;)
Totem Element Metal floorstander and Element Fire bookshelf loudspeakers powered by:
YBA Signature CD Player, VTL TL 7.5 Serie III tube preamplifier and VTL MB 450 Serie III tube mono amplifiers (2x425W)
Thanks all for visiting - it was a great show! We come back...
And do not forget to look here for the complete Totem photo album! Like it, share it, every feedback is Welcome!
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The Swiss Highendcompany is the distributor of Totem Acoustic, YBA, Eversound and Flash power cables in Austria and Germany. I am their sales agent in Austria and South Germany. In Munich two different setups including products from Totem Acoustic, VTL and YBA are presented! So you can enjoy twice a Canadian-US-French mix.
Highly musical evolving Totem speakers with powerfull VTL tube amplifiers and first-class YBA digital source - stay tuned for a great musical experience!
Here you find them: Atrium 4.2, room F206
First setup - European premiere of the new Totem Forest Signature loudspeakers!
The YBA CD100 cd player with the VTL IT 85 integrated tube amplifier will show the sound capabilities of the new Totem Forest Signature loudpseakers! The Forest Signature is at once a celebration and culmination of the Forest evolution - over the last 15 years. These special speakers come with a Polyester multi-coat finish on Cherry or Mahagony veneer.
No. 2 - Totem Elements Metal and Fire reference speakers, the Totem Torrent family - with VTL and YBA!
The 30.5 kg heavy YBA SIGNATURE CD PLAYER (reference model of the French electronics brand) as source, amplified by the famous VTL TL 7.5 III reference tube preamplifier and VTL MB 450 III Signature mono block tube amplifiers will show the whole potential of the Totem Element loudspeakers series! Both the bookshelf speaker Totem Element Fire and the big floorstander Totem Element Metal will be presented in Munich.
Here you see the whole setup warming up at the headquarter of the Swiss Highendcompany! Only the YBA SIGNATURE CD PLAYER is missing on that photo...
As special guest the man behind Totem is visiting Munich too:
Vince Bruzzese, CEO of Totem is attending the show and I am happy to meet him personally.
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Atrium 3, D108:
Dali Epicon loudspeakers with Accustic Arts DRIVE II, TUBE DAC II MK 2, TUBE PREAMP II, AMP I MK 2 Bi-Amping
Mathias Böde from German STEREO magazine makes a workshop to show the benefits of Bi-Amping!
Here you see the rehearsal for the fair - in German!
Atrium 4, F110:
ASW loudspeakers with Accustic Arts DRIVE II, TUBE DAC II MK 2, PREAMP I MK 3, AMP 1 MK 2
And now my teaser - the 6 Accustic Arts world premieres in Munich!
No. 1 - new Accustic Arts PLAYER II
Based upon the renowned reference CD transport DRIVE II Accustic Arts develpoed a "state-of-the-art" CD player and stand alone D/A converter as the ultimate integrated solution. Some features are:
No. 2 - new Accustic Arts TUBE PREAMP II - MK 2
The MK 2 version of the tube-hybrid preamplifier shines with additional features like:
No. 3 - new Accustic Arts MONO II
The world-wide awarded flagship amplifier AMP II - MK 2 delivered the basis for the brandnew mono-amplifier MONO II. Accustic Arts will be showing the first prototype at the HIGH END 2013 in Munich!
No. 4 - new USB 24/192 asynchronous-option for Accustic Arts TUBE DAC II - MK 2
The legendary TUBE DAC II - MK 2 is now able to handle 24bit/192kHz in asynchronous technology via the USB-input. This option can also implemented as an upgrade in all existing TD2 - MK 2!
No. 5 - new USB 24/192 asynchronous-option for Accustic Arts PLAYER ES
The hot seller PLAYER ES will be equipped with an asynchronous USB-input in 24/192 technology too.
No. 6 - new Uncompressed World Vol. 4, audiophile solo piano compact disc
Finally it's been accomplished and Accustic Arts is proud to present the fourth volume within the audiophile CD series UNCOMPRESSED WORLD. Everything in Vol. 4 is about Solo Piano and Accustic Arts managed to compile numerous musical delicacies from all over the world for all music lovers - Classic and Jazz tracks...
See you in Munich!
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The big surprise for every visitor wil be that the sound in the demo is excellent - regardless of the difficult acoustic situation!! To get similar results at customer's home too he go there and demonstrate how to achieve best possible results... Andreas Strasser is a qualified electrician and master craftsman - service on old gear can be done and has finished many custom installations projects in private or public area.
I demonstrated the new Accustic Arts Streamer ES, my laptop worked as music server and my mobile phone commanded the streaming client using the Accustic Arts streaming app. 100% plug and play - so concentrated on music stuff. ;) Jazz, classics, opera - we enjoyed everything with a maximum of musical tension and emotional impact ... a perfect afternoon!
Please take a look at the complete photo album!
]]>The first demo products from VTL - the highly regarded US tube electronics company - arrived my home and office!
So I have to test it and to audition some good music too! It smells good - so enjoying music and stopped testing soon. ;) MUSIC should always be the main purpose!!
The sound is an excellent mix of weight and power, the complete tension in my favourite music, very natural color and a delicate smooth top-end.
The unpacked VTL ST150 power amp uses 2x4 6550C tubes - same type as in the famous Siegfried Reference Monoblock amplifiers!
As you can not hear the phantastic sound - you can read the facts about the quick setup made:
Totem Acoustic Elements Metal loudspeaker
VTL TL2.5 line preamp
VTL ST-150 stereo power amp (2x90W in Triode mode or 2x175W in Terode mode)
all cables by Accustic Arts, platforms and Rollerblocks Series 2+ from Symposium Acoustics USA!
here are all photos from my listening room in my distribution office!
]]>Peter Sambs with visitors - playing the new Accustic Arts Streamer ES with Power ES and red glossy Totem Acoustic Forest speakers... (see all photos in the album)
And last but not at least the Totem Acoustic Wind loudspeakers in the big setup! As a second top model in the Totem range these are the biggest loudspeakers from the Canadian brand. There was a serious discussion about Wind versus Elements Metal. My heart voted for the Elements. Okay there were also 2 songs which profited from the deeper bass of the Wind.
As it was a great event many photos were made...
The complete photo album is here!
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The complete photo album is here!
]]>Michael Holzinger from Sempre Audio magazine talked about audio streaming - the right way to do it... including all options. He has indeed a very profund know-how!
DLNA, Upnp, Airplay... Which solution is the right for music listenres with high approach? But too much theory would be boring - so the second part of the evening was reserved for music.
To show what is possible I assisted with the complete ES electronics line from Accustic Arts - the star was the brandnew and first time in Austria presented Accustic Arts STREAMER ES!
The heart (motherboard) of this high-end streaming client DAC is built by Stream Unlimited, a Vienna based company. Of course power supply, dac or analogue output section is pure Accustic Arts design - And that makes the big difference to standard gear. ;)
As Loudspeakers we choosed the well-known Forest model from Canadian company Totem Acoustic - many Thanks to the Swiss distributor Highendcompany and their two CEOs also visiting the event in Vienna.
Many VIPs at the event - here Dr. Luwig Flich, the boss of Austrian Klangbilder high-end fair...
Last but not at least a photo of myself from a visitor with my cam! ;) Thank you!
Please look here for all photos from the evening in Vienna!
]]>Unpacked now and plugged in - will report soon during holidays...
Please look here for the first photos!
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Here is the directly link to the online report in German!
Please look here for my photos of the visit!
]]>So here I am in front of the Accustic Arts headquarters - the sun likes me...
Because of the big success of the Accustic Arts own CD series Uncompressed World - you can be sure that Vol. 4 will be released soon. The team behind the recordings you see on my photo (left: sound engineer Milan Saje - right: Rasmus Muttscheller from A&R)
The complete photo album is here!
]]>The new own shop is situated directly in the center of Linz - so easy to find .
I wish him personally all the Best for the new own shop!! As he takes care for individual customers and loves music - every music lover or high-end freak near Linz is invited for a first visit...
The complete photo album is here!
]]>Accustic Arts was in room 910 together with Transrotor from Germany, assisted by Peter Sambs from Sambshifi in Linz. 2 German big players in high-end audio! ;)
Swiss Highendcompany added the phantastic Totem Acoustic Element Metal loudspeaker for this show. Peter Sambs in Linz has both brands in his shop.
Many visitors, friends and professionals said Best sound of show... ;) Will come again 2013 to top!
The complete photo album is here!
]]>Michael Holzinger (Sempre Audio) visited the Accustic Arts factory in Lauffen am Neckar near Stuttgart in Germany. It was a pleasure to meet the people behind Accustic Arts, to watch how the German high-end products are built, hand-made by the experienced staff, tested before shipping... My pleasure was to be the tour guide.
The fully equipped record studio where the Accustic Arts Uncompressed World compact discs are mastered was a special highlight too.
Short visits in Heilbronn city, the Porsche museum in Stuttgart and castle Ludwigsburg made the tour perfect.
Please look here for more photos!
]]>Made a short trip - with Austrian Airlines - and visited the headquarter of Taurus High-End in Hamburg. The company is the German distributor for high-end audio brands like Magnepan, Wilson Benesch loudspeaker, Bel Canto electronics, Cardas cables, Soulution electronics... In Austria Taurus Highend is responsible for Magnepan, Bel Canto and Wilson Benesch.
I am the new sales agent for Austria now.
Look here for more photos of my trip to Hamburg!
]]>Michael Holzinger publishes his test of Accustic Arts ES electronics - PLAYER ES and POWER ES! Thank you Michael for this excellent report!
Please read here the complete test online in German!
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The highlight (or my king) of the 2011 show was the new TUBE DAC II - MK 2, which plays now digital sources up to 24 Bit 192 kHz. The sound with high resolution files from the Laptop (my Sony Vaio Z with SSD, JRiver Mediacenter) was outstanding! My renewed and personal favorite for digital playback... smooth, detailed, delicate natural color, perfect timing, power with no limit!
The complete photo album is here!
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The American based Imaging Science Foundation has been helping video manufacturers, dealers and integrators to deliver superior image quality since 1994. Over 5500 dedicated attendees have been through their certification programs. 22 HDTV manufacturers now have ISF Certification.
Hartmut Bayer is one of 2 ISF instructors here and made this special training for us. Back in 2004 Hartmut an I bought together our first expensive Colorfacts calibration gear from Milori in the US (later Datacolor) - so we have many years experience to calibrate high-end homecinemas projectors and displays.
2004 Colorfacts or Sencore were the main software supplier for calibration - nowadays CalMAN is the most used one. The photo shows CalMAN in action to help the qualified calibrator in his workflow to get the best performance. The technique behind is similar how you profile a computer monitor for accurate colors working on your photos...
The complete photo album is here!
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The main theme of my blog will be my job - working in sales / marketing of high end audio video gear. My hobby as photographer helps me to report about the sound of gear, about special events and new toys. Therefore the new Page http://walterkircher.zenfolio.com/high-end was created.
so now some facts of the high end show Klangbilder 2010 in Vienna:
The complete photo album is here!
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